cheap shanghai accomodation

Captain Hostel worked well for me. :)

1) When are your dates of stay?
2) Are you looking for a dorm bed or private room? How many of you are there?
3) What's your definition of "cheap"?
I would NOT recommend Captain's Hostel to any traveller I consider a friend.
Cheers!

why would you not recommend Captain's Hostel - i was planning to stay there - whats wrong with it?? - i am also looking for a cheap place to stay (dorm bed) and the Captain's hostel website looks good (with the advantage of prebooking it before) and dorm beds are only 70y which is good value in Shanghai, do you have prehaps any other recommendations. thank you

#3, 70 RMB for a dorm bed is one of the most expensive I've heard of in Shanghai. Without going into details, I'd just say that the service is appallingly lousy, and it's not just an isolated incident.
Head to Hiker IYH and Etour IYH instead. Both have locations which are just as good if not better than Captain's. Dorm bed at either would be around 55 RMB.
Hiker IYH: 450 Jiangxi Zhonglu (5 mins walk from metro line 2 Nanjing Donglu stop exit no.2), 86-21-63297889
Etour IYH: 57 Jiangyin Lu (<5 mins walk from metro line 1/2 interchange People's Square exit no.11 -- beside JW Marriott), 86-21-63277766
Cheers!

i have stayed in the hiker and the captains and i would go back to the hiker to stay,good food cheap beer and good nights sleep,the people were very helpful........go to the hiker..............

Captain's was clean and in a good location. I don't have a lot of experience with hostels in Shanghai but I've stayed in 2 or 3 hotels in Shanghai that were dirtier, in worse locations and more expensive.

Can't resist - have to say something! Captain Hostel is great, cheap, excellent location 2 minutes from The Bund, rooms cleaned daily, and the staff have always been helpful to me.

#6, there're better and worse everywhere. Just because you ended up with worse doesn't mean that Captain's is the best.
#7, I've noticed an abrupt change in attitude and friendliness (over the phone) when I spoke in English and when I spoke in Chinese. I've also noticed that the reception staff tend to be nicer to Westerners than to Asians. I hardly condone that kind of attitude.
Cheers!

ok thank you ellyse - do you know why Hiker IYH and Etour IYH arent in the LP guide - are they quite new? Also for me it is going to be my first day in China and i would like to make it as easy as possible - is it easier to get to Captains Hostel or IYH from Pudong airport (i speak no chinese - just have phrasebook) and also do the stave at the IY hostels speak english - do i need to reserve (will be arriving mid april). Another question i have been meaning to ask for a while - i would like to have a couple of nights out in Shanghai - the bars and 'real love club' look good - how easy is it to get back to the hostel - do you just need to take a cab (are they licensed ones or just puttting your thumb up and any car will take you) - how safe is it at night generally in Shanghai? thank you.

p.s. in response to 8 - has anyone been to Koala Youth Hostel - i think i have seen this ad quite a few times - the directions look useful on it though